Chunky, Mississippi

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Image:ChunkyControlPoint.jpg

Kansas City RR at Chunky

Chunky is a town in Newton County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 344 at the 2000 census.

1 Geography
2 History
3 Demographics
4 Government
5 Commerce
6 Churches
7 Other Community Activities
8 External links

[edit] Geography

Chunky is located at 32°19′38″N, 88°55′47″W (32.327201, -88.929717)^GR1, along the Chunky River.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.1 km² (0.8 mi²), all land.

Chunky is located on Interstate 20, 10 miles west of Meridian, Mississippi. The exit number is 121. The town is one mile south of the interstate. US Hwy 80 goes through the town.

[edit] History

Chunky was formerly a Choctaw Indian village called Chanki Chitto meaning Big Chunky. The name comes from an old Indian game of Chunka which was played at nearby Chunky Shoals. Chunky was the southernmost town of the Choctaws which was visited by Tecumseh in 1811. The Jackson Military Road passed through Chunky in 1816 and the A&V Railroad made a connection on the east side of Chunky in 1861. (Brieger, J. F. 1980. Hometown Mississippi. p.358). Chunky was later visited by another Tecumseh in 1864...this time it was William Tecumseh Sherman, who passed north of the present town on his campaign to destroy Meridian (Remembering. Vol 5, No 2 April 2006, p 17. Newton County Historical and Genealogical Society).

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 344 people, 120 households, and 95 families residing in the town. The population density was 160.0/km² (412.9/mi²). There were 136 housing units at an average density of 63.3/km² (163.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 87.79% White, 1.74% African American, 9.30% from other races, and 1.16% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.76% of the population.

There were 120 households out of which 37.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.8% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.8% were non-families. 18.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.87 and the average family size was 3.28.

In the town the population was spread out with 27.0% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 18.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 97.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $34,861, and the median income for a family was $45,313. Males had a median income of $32,813 versus $26,000 for females. The per capita income for the town was $14,498. About 16.2% of families and 16.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.8% of those under age 18 and 12.7% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Government

There is a United States Post Office at Chunky. The ZIP Code is 39323. Chunky also has a Town Hall and a Volunteer Fire Department.

[edit] Commerce

There are only two businesses within the town of Chunky. They are a barber shop, and a beauty shop. The Chunky post office serves Chunky and the surrounding area. A nearby restaurant, Boyette's Fish Camp is located on the site of Chunky Shoals, approximately 1/2 mile east of the town of Chunky.

[edit] Churches

The First Baptist Church and the United Methodist Church are in the town of Chunky. Chunky is the home to many who worship in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. There is no longer an Adventist Church near Chunky. Most of the Adventist attend church in nearby Meridian.